Central Oregon Strong: Oregon Community Foundation awards $100,000 in grants to help eight organizations
BEND, Ore. ─ In the two weeks following the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School, Oregonians have responded with an outpouring of generosity, compassion and a commitment to help the Bend community heal. The Oregon Community Foundation is among those stepping up to assist.
OCF said Thursday it has awarded $100,000 in a first round of grants from its Rapid Response Fund to eight organizations supporting students, families and others affected by the tragedy.
Grant recipients include:
- Bend-La Pine Education Foundation — $5,000
- Better Together Central Oregon — $15,000
- Central Oregon Disability Support Network — $20,000
- High Desert Education Service District — $10,000
- Lines for Life Central Oregon YouthLine — $10,000
- Silver Rail Elementary PTO — $5,000
- The BEAM — $20,000
- The Open Arts Center — $15,000
Total awarded: $100,000
The grants are supported by donations from individuals, businesses and foundations from across Oregon and beyond. Contributors included major gifts from the Portland Thorns, the Starbucks Foundation and the Les Schwab Foundation, as well as hundreds of donors who gave as little as $25.
Together, those donors demonstrated that every contribution matters. Their generosity reflects a broader commitment to standing with Bend and helping families, students and educators recover from an unimaginable loss.
“Oregon Community Foundation serves communities in every corner of our state, but this tragedy hit especially close to home,” said Lisa Mensah, President and CEO of Oregon Community Foundation.
“Our Bend office is just a few miles from Silver Rail Elementary School, and many of our staff, volunteers and partners have personal connections to the families affected. We have seen neighbors helping neighbors, businesses stepping up and people from across Oregon giving what they can to support this community. That's what makes Oregon special. In moments of heartbreak, we come together.”
The Rapid Response Fund supports urgent community needs that require a coordinated charitable response. Following the shooting, OCF worked with local leaders and nonprofit partners to identify where funding could have the greatest impact.
The trusted nonprofit organizations in this initial round of grants have a proven track record of serving Central Oregon residents and will continue supporting recovery efforts in the months ahead. As many have already, donors can also choose to support them directly through individual donations.
“These grants represent more than financial support,” Mensah said. “They are a reminder to families, students and educators that people across Oregon care deeply about this community and want to help. From gifts of $25 to major contributions from businesses and foundations, every donation became part of something larger than itself.”
Separately, the family of Megan Lambert established a fund at Oregon Community Foundation to honor the special education teacher's life and legacy. The Megan Lambert Memorial Fund will support causes that reflect Megan's values and interests, including education, mental health, services for children with special needs and Oregon schools.
About Oregon Community Foundation
Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. Working with donors, volunteers and nonprofit partners, OCF invests in communities throughout the state through grants, scholarships and charitable funds. Learn more at oregoncf.org.
